Suburban NY police commissioner accused of punching motorist

Dec. 22, 2017

LONG BEACH, N.Y. (AP) — A retired IRS worker says the police commissioner of a suburban New York town pulled him over in a traffic stop and punched him in the face.

According to Newsday, former Internal Revenue Service worker Kevin Holian says Long Beach Commissioner Michael Tangney pulled him over Tuesday evening and accused him of driving through a stop sign. He says that as he reached into the glove box to get his paperwork, Tangney punched him, bloodying his nose.

The commissioner says he did not punch the 64-year-old Holian and that he will be vindicated after an investigation. Tangney was also recently named acting city manager and says he plans to continue both roles during the investigation.